Looping and hooking machine

ABSTRACT

A spring looping and hooking machine is provided with a bayonet on a rotatable shaft mounted between independently adjustable bending sheaths rotatable to provide the bayonet with a circular motion. The rotatable shaft also carries a cam which serves to drive a spring clamping bar for fixing the spring on a knife edge during the hook or loop forming operation. The forming of the hook or loop is accomplished by the bayonet and sheaths bending over a pair of jaws. Each of the supports for the knife edge and the jaws are rotatably and linearly adjustable.

United States Patent Dammel 14 1 July 25, 1972 [54] LOOPING AND BOOKING MACHINE 3,167,099 1/1965 Backman ..140/103 Inventor: Milton H. Dammel 832 Denier Place, Cim 3,253,622 5/1966 l-lammersmith 140/103 cmnat" Ohm 45.224 Primary Examiner-Lowell A. Larson 1221 Filed: Jan. 11, 1911 Attorney-Arthur Plate pp 105,171 57 ABSTRACT A spring looping and hooking machine is provided with a bay- 52] U.S. Cl ..l40/ 103 onet on a rotatable shaft mounted between independently ad- [51] Int. Cl. ....B2lf 35/02 justable bending sheaths rotatable to provide the bayonet with [58] Field of Search 140/103, 104 'a c cular motion. The rotatable shaft also carries a cam which serves to drive a spring clamping bar for fixing the spring on a [56] R f en Cited knife edge during the hook or loop forming operation. The forming of the hook or loop is accomplished by the bayonet UNITED STATES PATENTS and sheaths bending over a pair of jaws. Each of the supports f t d th l d 1' 906,418 12/1908 Harter ..140/103 fig 'gf f edge e laws are mmb y an ad 2,078,828 4/1937 Baer et a1 ..l40/l03 3,156,269 1 1/1964 Lehtonen 140/103 10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patented July 25, 1972 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. g MILTON H. DAMMEL.

ATTORNEY.

Patented July 25, 1972 5 Sheets-S 2 MILTON H". DAMMEL Patented July 25, 1972 3,678,970

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. MILTON H. DAMMEL ATTORNEY.

LOOPING AND HOOKING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a spring hooking and looping machine capable of providing loops and hooks of various configurations. By simple adjustments, the machine can produce regular closed machine loops, machine hooks with gaps, loops or hooks on the side with or without gaps, double machine loops centered or on the side. The machine is capable of operating on right hand or left hand springs and permits a high production rate with a very short set-up time. The machine is easily adapted to produce long or short hooks. Because the forming of a hook or loop is produced by the rotary motion of a bayonet, very long loops can be formed without interference of the bayonet with the spring. As used herein, a hook is a loop having a gap between the end of the wire and the last turn remaining on the spring. The invention is capable of providing variable size gaps.

Spring looping machines are well known in the prior art and have been used for many years. US. Pat. to Baer et al., No. 2,078,828, is an example of one prior art spring looping machine over which the present invention represents an improvement. The present invention, unlike the Baer et al. patent or other known prior art, provides an easily adjustable circular path for the bayonet and the other loop or hook forming elements. All of the operative elements associated with the bayonet are rotatable and are adjustable on a common axis to permit simplified adjustments for varying the lengths of the loops or the hooks that are formed. The same circular motion also permits clamping the spring in position for the spring looping or hooking operation.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a spring looping machine made in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of FIG. 1; k

F IGS'. 3 and 4 are enlarged views of details shown in FIG. 2 but with the bayonet shown in different stages of operation;

FIG. 5 is a section view taken through the line 5-5 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is an end view partially in section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENT The purpose of the invention is to form a loop or hook in a spring S. The illustrated embodiment is intended for mounting on a table and for foot operation. However, the linkage for such foot operation has not been shown so as to simplify the description. The loop forming machine includes a supporting box-type frame from which the various elements are mounted. The box-type frame includes side walls 10 and 12 secured to a base l4 in any suitable manner. The walls 10 and 12 support the various operating shafts.

A rotatable shaft 16, supported by the walls 10 and I2, carries a loop forming bayonet 18 as well as the other elements operatively associated with it. The bayonet 18 is formed from a circular disk and is sandwiched within two sheaths 20 and 22. The ends of the sheaths adjacent the operating end of the bayonet 18 are shaped to provide shoulders or pressure pads 24 which cooperate in bending the spring in the formation of a loop or hook. Arcuate slots 21 in each of the sheaths 20 and v right angles from an extension 31 from a hub 33 which is rotatable on the shaft 16. The cam 28 has a first circular level 32 at which the clamping bar 30 is disengaged from the spring S. The cam 28 has a second level 34 at which the pressure bar 30 serves to hold the spring in a fixed position during a looping operation. The pressure bar 30 is driven by means of a mechanism including a cam follower 36 rotatably mounted on a crank 38. The crank 38' is rotatably mounted on a fixed shaft 40 supported between the walls 10 and I2. The other end of the crank 38 carries a threaded rod 42. The extension 31 is affixed tov the threaded rod 42 and drives the bar against the spring S. An operating spring (not shown) connected in the system between the foot pedal and the crank 26 normally maintains the pressure bar 30 out of contact with the spring S.

When a downward force is applied to the crank 26, the shaft 16 is rotated in a clockwise direction. Because the cam follower is initially positioned at the step between the levels 32 and 34 of the cam 28, the cam follower 36 is immediately elevated, thereby rotating the crank 38 on the fixed shaft 40 and driving the pressure bar 30 to a position at which it bears against the spring S which has been previously put into position for a looping operation. In the meantime, continued rotation of the shaft 16 causes the subsequent rotation of the bayonet l8 and the 'sheaths 20 and 22 into engagement with the spring S. FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 show various stages of bayonet and sheath rotation.

Adjustable supports are provided for positioning a knife edge 44 and two beveled jaws 46 and 48. As best seen in FIG. 2, the support for holding the knife edge 44 comprises a lower fixture 50 rotatably positioned on a shaft 52 which in turn is supported between the wall 10 and a wall 54. The position of the fixture 50 is adjustably fixed by means of threaded screws 56 and 58 suitably affixed to the wall 54. The knife edge 44 is adjustably clamped to the end of the support 50 by means of a rest 60. The rest 60 is provided with a recessed V" immediately behind the knife edge for the purpose of centering the spring S. The screw 64 serves to lock the rest 60 and the knife edge 44 together.

An upper fixture 66 supports the jaws 46 and 48. The fixture 66 is made up in two halves 68 and 70, both independently rotatable on a shaft 72 supported between the walls 10 and 54. One of the halves 70 is provided with internally located springs 74 and 76 which serve to force the two halves apart. The separation between the two halves 68 and 70 is determined by the precise positioning of adjusting screws 78 and 80 located in the wall 54. The angular position of the half 68 is positioned on the shaft 72 by means of screws 82, while the angular position of the half 70 is independently adjustable by means of the screws 84. The jaws 46 and 48 are positioned at the ends of the support 66 adjacent the knife edge 44. The jaws are adjustably positioned in a linear direction by means of a clamp 86 and screws 88.

Thus, the knife edge 44 is angularly positioned by rotation on the shaft 52 by adjusting the screws 56 and 58. It is also linearly adjusted by simply loosening its clamp and making an appropriate displacement. The two halves 68 and 70 are also angularly adjustable by means of the adjusting screws 82 and 84 and are linearly adjustable by the loosening of the screws 88. In addition, the spacing between the halves 70 and 68 is adjustable by means of the screws 78 and 80.

DESCRIPTION OF THE OPERATION The invention is intended for manual operation. The spring S is first manually impaled on the knife edge 44, adjacent a terminal coil, but generally between the second and third turns. The knife edge 44 serves to hold the spring S until clamped by the clamping bar 30 and, in addition, it pries apart the adjacent turns to permit subsequent penetration by the bayonet 18 between the first and second turns.

Prior to operation, the jaws 46 and 48 are adjustably positioned, generally by trial and error, for the purpose of guiding the loop into a predetermined position for bending. The ultimate shape of the loop or hook is determined by the spacing between the jaws 46 and 48, the respective heights of the jaws above the knife edge, and the length of the stroke of the bayonet I8, which is adjusted by rotating the sheaths l8 and 20 with respect to the bayonet l8.

When the operator depresses the crank 26, the rotation of the shaft 16 serves to simultaneously rotate the cam 28, the bayonet 18 and the sheaths 20 and 22. The clamping bar 30 is moved into a clamping position against the spring S by the crank 38, and it serves to drive the spring S into the recessed V of the rest 60. This provides the functions of firmly securing the spring and of centering it for proper penetration by the bayonet 18.

As the rotation of the shaft continues, the bayonet advances, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, it picks up a turn of the spring and bends it over one of the jaws 46 or 48, depending on the pre-adjustment of these jaws. That turn of the spring is then engaged by a shoulder 24 on one of the sheaths 20 or 22. The combined action of the jaws, the shoulders and the bayonet serves to permanently bend the turn to form a loop or a hook, depending upon the various dimensions which are preestablished.

The use of a circularly shaped and driven bayonet provides certain of the primary advantages of this invention. First, it permits a much longer stroke of the bayonet without any problem of interference with the spring or the knife edge. Secondly, it permits the mounting of the sheaths l8 and 20 in a fanable relationship so that by simply loosening the lock 25 the relationship of the gauges or shoulders 24 and the bayonet 18 can be adjusted so that one or the other or both of the gauges can provide the bending action. In addition, the same rotary motion of the shaft 16 provides the drive via the cam 28 and the cam roller 36 for the clamping bar 30.

Another feature of the invention is in the adjustability of the jaws and the knife edge. That is, the knife edge which is supported by the fixture 50, and the jaws which are supported by the fixture 66 are both angularly and linearly adjustable with respect to the bayonet 18 by means of very simple adjusting elements. In addition, the spacing between the jaws is easily adjusted laterally. These various adjustments permit the looping of various sized springs and the bending of various lengths and widths of loops or hooks without the necessity of changing the various components of the machine. That is to say, the

. machine is capable of accommodating a wide range of spring sizes and is capable of producing a wide range of loop configurations.

I claim: I. A spring looping machine comprising: a knife edge adapted to impale a spring near its terminal coil, said knife edge being mounted on a first support; first and second spaced jaws supported on a second support above said knife edge and adjacent said impaled spring;

a bayonet rotatably supported from a shaft, said bayonet being positioned to traverse a circular path through said spring and the space between said jaws;

first and second sheaths affixed to said bayonet on opposite sides thereof, said sheaths having a pressure pad adjacent said bayonet; and

means for rotating said bayonet and said pressure pads, said bayonet penetrating said spring adjacent said terminal coil, and said pressure pads bending said terminal coil into a loop against said jaws.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said bayonet is formed from a circular disk, the axis of said disk being fixed to said rotatable shaft.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said sheaths are formed from circular disks and wherein said bayonet is sandwiched between said sheaths, said pressure pad being formed on said sheath adjacent said bayonet at an acute angle with respect thereto.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3, and means for independently adjusting the angular position of said pads with respect to said bayonet.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said sheaths are independently angularly adjustable with respect to said bayonet.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1, and a pressure bar for clamping said spring on said knife edge, said pressure bar being :Fgported from a hub rotatable on said shaft, a cam being xed to said shaft, said cam having first and second levels; a cam roller supported froma crank,said crank being operatively connected to said pressure bar and driving said pressure bar into engagement with said spring when said roller travels from said first level to said second level upon rotation of said shaft.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said first support is angularly adjustable and wherein said knife edge is linearly adjustable on said first support.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said first-support includes a rest for said knife edge, said rest having a recessed V" below said knife edge, said recessed V" providing a fixed position for said spring when clamped by said clamping bar.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said knife edge is linearly movable with respect to said rest.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said second support includes means for independently angularly adjusting the position of said jaws and means for adjusting the space between said jaws. 

1. A spring looping machine comprising: a knife edge adapted to impale a spring near its terminal coil, said knife edge being mounted on a first support; first and second spaced jaws supported on a second support above said knife edge and adjacent said impaled spring; a bayonet rotatably supported from a shaft, said bayonet being positioned to traverse a circular path through said spring and the space between said jaws; first and second sheaths affixed to said bayonet on opposite sides thereof, said sheaths having a pressure pad adjacent said bayonet; and means for rotating said bayonet and said pressure pads, said bayonet penetrating said spring adjacent said terminal coil, and said pressure pads bending said terminal coil into a loop against said jaws.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said bayonet is formed from a circular disk, the axis of said disk being fixed to said rotatable shaft.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said sheaths are formed from circular disks and wherein said bayonet is sandwiched between said sheaths, said pressure pad being formed on said sheath adjacent said bayonet at an acute angle with respect thereto.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 3, and means for independently adjusting the angular position of said pads with respect to said bayonet.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said sheaths are independently angularly adjustable with respect to said bayonet.
 6. The invention as defined in claim 1, and a pressure bar for clamping said spring on said knife edge, said pressure bar being supported from a hub rotatable on said shaft, a cam being affixed to said shaft, said cam having first and second levels; a cam roller supported from a crank, said crank being operatively connected to said pressure bar and driving said pressure bar into engagement with said spring when said roller travels from said first level to said second level upon rotation of said shaft.
 7. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said first support is angularly adjustable and wherein said knife edge is linearly adjustable on said first support.
 8. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said first support includes a rest for said knife edge, said rest having a recessed ''''V'''' below said knife edge, said recessed ''''V'''' providing a fixed position for said spring when clamped by said clamping bar.
 9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said knife edge is linearly movable with respect to said rest.
 10. The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said second support includes means for independently angularly adjusting the position of said jaws and means for adjusting the space between said jaws. 